Gavin Robinson: Hard border not the answer to immigration control
By Claudia Savage, Press Association
There is “no effective people border” on the island of Ireland, the leader of the DUP has said, as he called for better-enforced “immigration controls”.
On Saturday, Gavin Robinson said a “hard border” is not the solution, after asking Keir Starmer on Wednesday what the British prime minister would do to ensure “he protects and closes the open, porous border” on the island.
There was unrest across Northern Ireland this week in response to a knife attack on Monday night in which a man suffered significant injuries, including the loss of his left eye.
Sudanese national Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder.
Alodid came to Belfast by bus in February 2023, having flown to Dublin from Paris, bringing the Common Travel Area (CTA) between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland into political focus in both jurisdictions.
In a letter to party members, Robinson said the attack on Stephen Ogilvie has “shocked Northern Ireland”.
“I spent time with Stephen’s parents on Thursday,” he said.
“Despite the trauma they are enduring, their message was clear: reject violence and focus on Stephen’s recovery.
“We continue to pray for Stephen and for his family.
“Violence, intimidation and racism are wrong. They solve nothing.
“In fact, they make it harder to have the serious conversation that is now needed about immigration and border security.
“This debate is no longer confined to traditional political boundaries in Northern Ireland.
“Concerns are being raised by people from all backgrounds who simply want to know that immigration is controlled, fair and commands public confidence.”
He also criticised Sinn Féin for being “out of touch” with people’s “concerns”.
“While Michelle O’Neill’s response has effectively been that there is nothing to see here, many people across Northern Ireland believe legitimate questions deserve proper answers,” the DUP leader said.
“At present, there is no effective people border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“The answer is not a so-called hard border.
“At the height of the Troubles, with 25,000 soldiers deployed and extensive security infrastructure, no-one succeeded in sealing the border.
“Nobody is proposing that in 2026.
“The answer is for the United Kingdom and Irish Governments to work together on effective immigration controls, intelligence sharing and enforcement at ports and airports, preventing abuse of the system before people ever reach the land border.
“We need a British Isles solution that works for everyone.”
